Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Waterbury leads 12 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Waterbury
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $22,565 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (8.2%)
More college-educated — 20.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $202k less ($162,800 vs $364,700)
46% less violent crime than Brockton
Rent averages $306/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,446)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $22,565/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 8.2%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$22,565
$74,016 vs $51,451/yr
Brockton
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
8.2% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
46% lower
322.5 vs 599.2 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$202k less
$162,800 vs $364,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 6.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waterbury leads 12 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 11 and Waterbury wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Brockton to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $162,800 median home), income ($74,016 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Waterbury, CT are about 110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.